Easter Sunday - To trade or not to trade

Western Bay residents are being asked for their views on whether shops should be allowed to trade on Easter Sunday in 2018.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has released its draft Easter Sunday Shop Trading policy for public consultation from 23 October to 24 November.

Until now it has been against the law to trade on Easter Sunday, except for a small range of shops exempt under the Act.

A change to the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 last year has enabled councils to develop their own policy for Easter Sunday trading.

Council's draft policy only pertains to Easter Sunday - not Good Friday, ANZAC Day or Christmas Day, nor does it remove the right for employees to choose not to work on Easter Sunday.

Some businesses in the District have asked Council to develop a policy to enable trading - but this may be at odds with some members of the community who value Easter Sunday as a non-working day.

If the community opposes Easter Sunday trading and Council elects not to adopt a final policy, those shops currently exempt under the present Trading Act, will continue to be allowed to trade and other retail activities will not be allowed.

The full draft policy and statement of proposal is available on http://haveyoursay.westernbay.govt.nz or at Council's service centres.